"I'm sure that if I'd been a Roman I'd have got very irritated at the way these barbarians were speaking a bastardised version of my wonderful language. "

They most certainly did. The word "barbarian" Comes from the fact that to the Romans, accustomed to that most elegant language Latin, the language of the northern Europeans sounded like "Bar bar bar bar" -- in other words gibberish (and isn't that a wonderfully expressive other word?).

"'If anyone wants to learn about folk music, they would be well advised to try the Mudcat.'

"'If anyone wants to learn about folk music, he or she would be well advised to try the Mudcat.'

"Two ways of saying the same thing. I think the first form is actually better English."

Given that "anyone" is singular and "they" is plural I disagree. Simpler certainly, in more than one sense of the word (o,-), but not better, surely? However, I defend to the death your right to speak English however you choose, mon ami, as long as you can forgive the occasional wince on my part.

Dang! Some folks air sure pa'tic'lar about their speechifyin', ain't they?